Shaft-gearing for vehicles



NO'MOaeL M. D. STRAIT. SHAFT GEARING FOR VEHICLES.

No. 408,819. Patented Aug. 13. 1889'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARCUS D. STRAIT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHAFT-GEARING FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,819, dated August 13, 1889.

Application filed November 22, 1888. Serial No. 291,550. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS D. STRAIT, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Shaft-Coupling Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shaft-coupling gearing in which the shaft or pole of a vehicle is secured fixedly to the axle, which operates in conjunction with an -adjustable strap and sleeve; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to prevent any noise or rattle such as is caused by the shaft being connected with the axle by means of clips in the manner heretofore used; second, to afford the necessary revolving movement of the axle in conjunction with raising or lowering of the shaft, and, third, to securely fasten the shaft to the axle, thereby dispensing with the shaft-coupling and king-bolt heretofore used in the construction of wagons. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of front axle; Fig. 2, a detailed top view of fifth-wheel; Fig. 3, a vertical section on line 3 3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a vertical section on line at 4, Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an elevation of sectional sleeve; Fig. 6, an elevation of sectional strap; Fig. 7, a detailed elevation of shaft.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents the wheels, B the axle, and G the shaft. Shaft 0 may be secured to the axle by any suitable means; but I prefer the method illustrated in Fig. 7, in which shaft 0 is bolted to shaft-irons O 0 the lower ends of which are threaded for the reception of nuts for the purpose of securing said irons to axle B. Shaft-iron O is provided with projection C for the purpose of forming a bearing for the shaft, thus preventing any pressure or friction on the end of said shaft when secured to the axle.

NVith shaft-irons constructed and secured to the axle in the manner above shown there can be no noise or rattle from said shaft.

In order that the shaft may be lowered or raised, a revolving movementis given to axle 13 by means of sleeve D and adjustable strap E. Sleeve D is made in two sections D D,

adapted to fit and be securely fastened to axle B by means of clips J, as shown in Fig. 1. Said sleeve is provided with annular groove or any suitable means to prevent end'movement of strap E, which surrounds said sleeve, as shown in Fig. 4, thus permitting said axle to freely revolve in said strap and operate in conjunction with shaft 0. Strap E is made, preferably, in two sections, Fig. 6, of suitable size, and adapted to and bearing in an annular groove in sleeve D, said strap being adjustable by means of bolts on either side of said strap, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper section is provided with a projection F, extending up through the bolster-head and engaging brace G. The lower section is provided with projection F, engaging brace H, and the purpose in constructing strap E with said proj ections or pivots engaging said braces in the manner herein shown is to give a universal movement to axle B, which operates within and in conjunction with said strap. Brace II and brace G are secured at either end by bolts passing through the fifth wheel I and perch K, as shown in Fig. 3, and serve to give additional support in holding strap E in its proper perpendicular position.

Fifth-wheel I, as shown in Fig. 2, is of the usual construction and is secured to the bolster-head and perch in the usual manner. The under side of said wheel rests or forms a bearing on clips J, and relieves strap E of any possible strain which might be occasioned by the turning or cramping of thevehicle.

I do not regard the fifth-wheel as a necessary element in the operation of my device; but as my invention may be applied to old as well as new work I merely desire to show how it may be used.

I am aware that the shafts of two-wheeled vehicles have been secured fixedly to the axle of said vehicles; but my invention relates to that class of vehicles known as carriages and wagons, and is used in connection with that class only.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a shaft-coupling gearing, shaft-iron 0, having projection 0 and shaft-iron 0 both of said irons secured fixedly to shaft 6 and axle 13,1'11 combination with sleeve D and adjustable strap E, all constructed to operate substantially as described.

2. Sectional sleeve D, having suitable means to prevent end movement of adjustable strap E, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

Strap E, susceptible of adjustment, having projections F and F, engaging" braces II and G in the manner shown, said strap surroundin sleeve D, and turning back and l forth by means of said projections in unison with the backward and forward movement of axle B, which also revolves within said strap, thereby imparting the proper universal movement to said axle in operating in conjunction with said strap, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

MARCUS D. STRAIT. Vitnesses:

EDWARD S. JEFFREY, THOMAS E. CLARK. 

